Thelio Mega: The World’s Smallest Quad-GPU Deep Learning System
Most quad-GPU workstations on the market right now use a generic chassis. It works if you want something just for storing components, but what you get is a machine that runs hot and slows down your system. That’s where Thelio Mega comes in.
All About Thermals We’ve engineered Thelio Mega to ensure your top-line components perform to their fullest potential. Its thermals are actually two separate systems, as we found it more effective to divide and conquer. Unique airflows keep heat generated by the CPU and GPU from mixing, exhaust air effectively, and prevent throttling.
Heat builds up quickly when you have up to 4 NVIDIA Quadro RTX GPUs stacked atop one another. Rather than use a single vent to cool the entire system, Thelio Mega uses intake fans on the bottom and side panels to blow cool air directly onto your GPUs. Everything down to the GPU brace has been tested for maximum thermal efficiency. The result is consistent access to every last core of performance in your system.
Meanwhile, a separate duct isolates the airflow to your CPU. A dedicated intake vent on the side panel directs cool air towards the heat sink. In what’s called a closed-loop phase change, actuating fluid evaporates into a gas, drawing thermal energy away from the CPU and towards the heat sink. The hot air then exits via the exhaust port. The process yields performance similar to if your components were sitting on a test bench.
We tested a wide variety of fan sizes and alignments, sometimes adjusting position by only a couple millimeters, until we arrived at the most effective solution. Large 140mm fans move air more effectively at a lower RPM, producing quieter acoustics. The Thelio IO board allows your operating system to monitor the temperature of your GPUs and adjust fan speeds for intensive computing.
The Components
Send this shopping list straight to your purchasing manager: Thelio Mega maxes out at 4 NVIDIA Quadro GPUs, 128 threads on an AMD Ryzen Threadripper CPU, 256GB of memory (including 128GB ECC memory), 96TB of storage (including 32TB NVMe storage), and Dual 10GB Ethernet ports, which operate at speeds 10 times faster than the speed of a standard Ethernet port.
Serviceability
Like all Thelio desktops, Thelio Mega is built to be expandable, repairable, and convenient. The system is pre-wired for upgrades. Screws for 2.5” storage drives are neatly tucked away in the GPU duct panel. When you’re in need of additional compute firepower, there’s room to spare.
Open Hardware
Celebrate Open Hardware Month! Thelio Mega is OSHWA-certified open source hardware. Anyone can download the schematics, learn from them, or adapt them into something new. System76 is a pro-Right to Repair company with lifetime support and readily available documentation.
Visit our website to learn more about the new Thelio Mega! Power the bigger picture on the world’s smallest quad-GPU deep learning system.